Since 1995, thousands of exoplanets have been discovered. Outside the edge of our solar system, which contains lava planets, is considered the “most extreme.”
What are lava planets?
A news release published this week by McGill University describes the lava planets as “warm worlds filled with fire that circle close to their host star that some regions are oceans of molten lava.”
The release announces the findings of a new study by scientists from McGill University, York University and the Indian Institute of Science Education, who have discovered that the atmosphere and weather cycle of a new “lava planet” is even more bizarre. Evaporation and precipitation, supersonic winds that blow at more than 3,106 miles per hour, and magma oceans at more than 62 miles per hour. “
In a study published in the “Royal Astronomical Society’s Monthly Notices”, scientists used computer simulations to predict conditions at 2-141b, “Earth-sized exoplanets, all composed of surface, ocean and atmosphere alike.” Ingredients: rocks, ”the release said.
“This study is the first to predict weather conditions at 2-141b that could be detected hundreds of light years from next-generation telescopes such as the James Webb Web Space Telescope,” said Jiang Nguyen, PhD student at York University, in a news release. Said.
K2-141B faces most of the infinite daylight.
In contrast to the illuminated hemisphere experienced on Earth, the publication states that while analyzing the luminosity pattern of T, K2-141b, it was discovered that about two-thirds of the Explanet always encounters light due to its star’s very close orbit. Is “locked at the point of gravity,” – meaning the same side always facing the star.
What about his “night” side?
Unlike its “day” side – which is approximately 5,432 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough for rocks to melt and evaporate, creating a thinner atmosphere in some areas – the “never contained” night side experiences temperatures of -328 degrees Fahrenheit, the release said. Was.
“The probability of our discovery means that the atmosphere extends slightly along the shores of the magma ocean, making it easier to find a location through space telescopes,” Nicholas Cowan, a professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at McGill University, told the news. Release.
Think of the earth’s water cycle – just with the rocks
Just like the Earth’s water cycle, where water fills the atmosphere, condenses, and falls back like rain, rock vapor atmospheres – sodium, silicon monoxide and silicon dioxide – formed by extreme heat at 2-141b, pass through rain Is, got the study.
Unlike Earth, where rain flows back into the oceans, and the water cycle repeats, the study found that at 2-141b, supersonic winds evaporate the mineral vapor formed by rocks, towards the frigid ride, and the rocks ‘rain’ back. Is down in the magma ocean. “By repeating the cycle after those currents, that 2-141b returns to the hot day side.
Scientists explain that the cycle of K2-141b is not as stable as that of the one on Earth, because the return of magma oceans is slower during the day, the publication said. Scientists predict that as a result, the mineral composition of the exoplanet will change over time – “eventually the surface and atmosphere of 2-141b change,” according to a McGill University presentation.
The next step is to test their predictions, scientists say. With data now available from the Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists say they should get a first glimpse at the day-side and night-side temperatures of exoplanets. The launch of the James Webb Web Space Telescope in 2021 will allow testing to see if it behaves in accordance with the weather forecast, the release said.
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